Watercraft launch extension

ABSTRACT

Provided is a watercraft launch extension, including a tow vehicle section with an elongated tube having one end configured and sized to fit a tow vehicle receiver, a hollow interior and holes bilaterally aligned in pairs at intervals along its major axis, a watercraft trailer section, including an elongated tube having one end configured to attach to a boat trailer, and an outer surface dimensioned to allow the opposite end to be inserted into the hollow interior of the tow vehicle section&#39;s elongated tube, and having one or more pair of bilaterally aligned holes positioned to align with one or more of the pairs of holes of the tow vehicle section&#39;s elongated tube, and a fastening means for fastening the tow vehicle section to the boat trailer section using at least one aligned pair of holes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of watercraft is a popular outdoor activity. There are a widevariety of watercraft on the market that appeal to the users need ortaste, ranging from a small canoe or jet ski, to a mid-sized boat, to alarge cabin cruiser. Many such vessels, hereinafter generally referredto as “watercraft”, generally up to a certain size, are stored out ofthe water and are transported for use over land using a trailer.

Trailers of various types and sizes have been used to transportwatercraft to and from a boat launch, where the watercraft are placedinto and removed from a body of water. The majority of trailers use aball and hitch type connection to connect the trailer to a tow vehicle.

In general, a watercraft trailer is adapted to be attached to the towvehicle directly using, for example, a standard hitch ball mounted tothe rear of the tow vehicle. In this configuration, the distance betweenthe tow vehicle and the trailer is minimal. Indeed, for stability andsafety reasons, it is preferable that the distance between the towvehicle and the trailer during the transportation is not too large.

A typical boat launch comprises a ramp that runs from an above-wateraccess area down into the body of water. Ramps may be paved, such asconcrete, or may have a natural bottom, such as dirt or gravel.

When launching a watercraft into a body of water from a ramp, often therear portion of the tow vehicle ends up in the water. When the towvehicle enters the water, it may be exposed to water damage to thesprings, shocks, exhaust system, brakes and other vehicle componentsthat get wet.

If the ramp is a natural bottom ramp, the tow vehicle may end up in themud or soft bottom soil of the lake, pond or ocean. In addition topossible water damage, there may also be a problem if the tow vehicledoes not have enough weight over its rear wheels, after the watercrafthas been launched, to gain sufficient traction to move up the ramp.

If the ramp is a concrete ramp, there may be a growth of algae or mosson the concrete at the water level that likewise prevents the towvehicle from getting sufficient traction to exit the ramp.

Therefore, it is often desirable that the distance between the towvehicle and the trailer be large when the watercraft is being launchedinto the water.

Thus, it is desirable to provide a device that allows for a shortdistance between the tow vehicle and the trailer during transport, andfurther allows a longer distance when the watercraft is to be launched.For example, it is desirable to be able to extend the distance betweenthe tow vehicle and the watercraft trailer, to allow the trailer to bebacked down the ramp and into the water, where the watercraft islaunched, without the tow vehicle having to enter the water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a watercraft launchextension, which includes a tow vehicle section, a watercraft trailersection, and fastening means for fastening the tow vehicle section tothe watercraft trailer section. The tow vehicle section includes anelongated tube having one end configured and sized to fit a tow vehiclereceiver, a hollow interior and holes bilaterally aligned in pairs atintervals along the major axis of the elongated tube. The watercrafttrailer section includes an elongated tube having one end configured toattach to a watercraft trailer, and further includes an outer surfacedimensioned to allow the end opposite the end configured for attachmentto the watercraft trailer to be inserted into the hollow interior of thetow vehicle section's elongated tube at the end opposite the endconfigured to fit the tow vehicle receiver, the watercraft trailersection further having one or more pair of bilaterally aligned holespositioned to align with one or more of the pairs of holes of the towvehicle section's elongated tube.

In one aspect of the invention, the elongated tubes of the tow vehiclesection and the watercraft trailer section comprise metallic tubing.

In an aspect of the invention, the metallic tubing described above has arectangular cross-section.

In an aspect of the invention, the metallic tubing described above has asquare cross-section.

In an aspect of the invention, the metallic tubing is made of stainlesssteel.

In another aspect of the invention, the metallic tubing is made ofgalvanized steel.

In another aspect of the invention, the metallic tubing is made of ametal alloy.

In an aspect of the invention, the metallic tubing described above hasan oval cross-section.

Another aspect of the invention includes a watercraft launch extensionas described above, where the fastening means includes one or more hitchpins.

Another aspect of the invention includes a watercraft launch extensionas described above, where the end of the tow vehicle section configuredand sized to fit a tow vehicle receiver slides into the receiver and issecured by a hitch pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a watercraft launch extension in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a close-up of section A-A of FIG. 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an end view of a watercraft launchextension in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A is an illustration of a watercraft launch extension attached toa tow vehicle in a non-extended configuration in accordance with anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4B is an illustration of a watercraft launch extension attached toa tow vehicle in an extended configuration in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specificnumbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however,to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In some instances, well-knownfeatures may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the presentinvention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “oneembodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature,structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearancesof the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specificationare not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

A watercraft launch extension 100 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. In an embodiment, a watercraftlaunch extension 100 includes a tow vehicle section 112 and a watercrafttrailer section 102. In a preferred embodiment, both sections are madeof stainless or galvanized steel square tubing having a cross-section ofapproximately three inches by three inches. In alternative embodiments,the sections may be made of any material, and may have a cross-sectionthat is non-square and is of any dimensions. For example, in anembodiment, the sections may be made of a metal alloy and may have anoval cross-section that is approximately two inches across its minoraxis and four inches across its major axis.

Further, in an embodiment, the tow vehicle section includes a tip 114 atone end. The tip 114 in an exemplary embodiment is dimensioned to fit astandard tow vehicle receiver (not depicted), into which it is slid, andit may be secured to the tow vehicle using a hitch pin 108 insertedthrough holes 116 on the tip 114 and holes in the tow vehicle receiver.Means and techniques of attaching a tip 114 to a tow vehicle receiverare well known to those of ordinary skill in watercraft usage.

The tip 114 may be welded to the tow vehicle section 112. Alternatively,any means of fastening the tip 114 to the tow vehicle section 112 may beemployed.

Also, in an embodiment, the watercraft trailer section 102 isdimensioned to be at least partially slidably inserted into the towvehicle section 112. When the watercraft trailer section 102 is thusinserted into the tow vehicle section 112, the overall length of thewatercraft launch extension 100 is lengthened or shortened depending onthe distance the watercraft trailer section 102 is inserted.

In an exemplary embodiment, the tow vehicle section 114 and watertrailer section 102 includes holes 106 on opposing sides. The holes aresized and spaced to achieve various positions where pairs of holes 106of the respective watercraft trailer section 102 and tow vehicle section112 align. Once the water trailer section 102 is inserted into the towvehicle section 112, and two or more of the holes 106 align, therespective sections 102, 112 may be secured in position using one ormore hitch pins 108, such as by sliding the hitch pins 108 through thealigned holes 106 in the tow vehicle section 114 and water trailersection 102.

In a preferred embodiment, the hitch pins 108 are stainless steel,although it is recognized that any material with suitable sheer strengthmay be used.

Also in an embodiment, at the end 116 of the watercraft trailer section102 opposite the end inserted into the tow vehicle section 112 is astandard hitch ball 104, for attaching the watercraft trailer (notshown) to the watercraft launch extension 100. Other embodiments of theinvention may use different means of attaching the watercraft trailer tothe watercraft launch extension 100. For example, a clamping device orother device may be used to attach the watercraft trailer to thewatercraft launch extension 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of FIG. 1 taken through line 2-2 inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The watercrafttrailer section 102 may be dimensioned to tightly fit into the towvehicle section 112, and the holes 106 in both sections may bepositioned to provide alignment for the insertion of hitch pins (notdepicted in FIG. 2) at one or more insertion positions. This providesthe watercraft launch extension 100 with a telescoping feature, therebyallowing the extension to assume several overall lengths.

In another embodiment, the tow vehicle section 112 may be dimensioned tofit into the watercraft trailer section 102. In such an embodiment, theinteraction between the sections 102, 112 are similar to those depictedin the figures and the description herein, except that the watercrafttrailer section 102 is larger in cross section than the tow vehiclesection 112.

FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of a watercraft launch extension 300 inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. The watercraft trailersection 102 and ant the hitch ball 104 are coupled together by way of abolt 202 and a nut 204.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates a watercraft launch extension attached to atow vehicle in both a non-extended 400 and an extended 400′configuration. Referring to FIG. 4A, a tow vehicle 408 is depicted.Although trucks and sports utility vehicles (“SUVs”) are often the towvehicles of choice for boaters and others who use watercraft, anyvehicle capable of towing the watercraft and the watercraft trailer,together with the watercraft launch extension, may be employed. The towvehicle section 112 is may be fastened using bolts 404 to a connector406 that is, in turn, fastened to the tow vehicle 408. The connector 406may be fastened to the tow vehicle 408 using any of several means,including but not limited to one or more welds, bolts or otherfasteners.

As previously described, the tow vehicle section 112 may include holepairs 106 drilled along its length which line up with corresponding holepairs 106 in the watercraft trailer section 102, as seen in FIG. 4B. InFIG. 4A, hitch pins 108 are inserted through the hole pairs 106 in thetow vehicle section 112 and watercraft trailer section 102, resulting ina shortened configuration for the watercraft launch extension.

Also visible in FIGS. 4A and 4B are the hitch ball 104 and a nut 204 forattaching the watercraft trailer (not depicted) to the watercraft launchextension. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the hitch ball 104 andbolt 204 are attached to tip portion 402, which is, in turn attached tothe watercraft trailer section 102. For example, the tip portion 402 maybe fastened to the watercraft trailer section 102 using any of severalmeans, including but not limited to one or more welds, bolts or otherfasteners.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A watercraft launch extension, comprising: a tow vehicle sectioncomprising an elongated tube having one end configured and sized to fita tow vehicle receiver, a hollow interior and holes bilaterally alignedin pairs at intervals along the major axis of the elongated tube; awatercraft trailer section, comprising an elongated tube having onefirst end configured to attach to a watercraft trailer, and furtherconfigured to have an outer surface dimensioned to allow a second endopposite the first end to be inserted into the hollow interior of thetow vehicle section's elongated tube at the end opposite the endconfigured to fit the tow vehicle receiver, and having one or more pairof bilaterally aligned holes, the holes positioned to align with one ormore of the pairs of holes of the tow vehicle section's elongated tube;and a fastening means for fastening the tow vehicle section to thewatercraft trailer section using at least one pair of holes on eachsection's elongated tube.
 2. The watercraft launch extension accordingto claim 1, in which the elongated tubes of the tow vehicle section andthe watercraft trailer section comprise metallic tubing.
 3. Thewatercraft launch extension according to claim 2, wherein the metallictubing has a square cross-section.
 4. The watercraft launch extensionaccording to claim 2, wherein the metallic tubing is comprised ofstainless steel.
 5. The watercraft launch extension according to claim2, wherein the metallic tubing is comprised of galvanized steel.
 6. Thewatercraft launch extension according to claim 2, wherein the metallictubing is comprised of a metal alloy.
 7. The watercraft launch extensionaccording to claim 2, wherein the metallic tubing has an ovalcross-section.
 8. The watercraft launch extension according to claim 2,wherein the metallic tubing has a rectangular cross-section.
 9. Thewatercraft launch extension according to claim 1, wherein the fasteningmeans comprises one or more hitch pins.
 10. The watercraft launchextension according to claim 1, in which the end of the tow vehiclesection configured and sized to fit a tow vehicle receiver slides intothe receiver and is secured by a hitch pin.
 11. A watercraft launchextension, comprising: a watercraft trailer section comprising anelongated tube having one end configured and sized to fit a watercrafttrailer, a hollow interior and holes bilaterally aligned in pairs atintervals along the major axis of the elongated tube; a tow vehiclesection, comprising an elongated tube having one first end configured toattach to a tow vehicle receiver, and further configured to have anouter surface dimensioned to allow a second end opposite the first endto be inserted into the hollow interior of the watercraft trailersection's elongated tube at the end opposite the end configured to fitthe watercraft trailer, and having one or more pair of bilaterallyaligned holes, the holes positioned to align with one or more of thepairs of holes of the watercraft trailer section's elongated tube; and afastening means for fastening the tow vehicle section to the watercrafttrailer section using at least one pair of holes on each section'selongated tube.
 12. The watercraft launch extension according to claim1, in which the elongated tubes of the tow vehicle section and thewatercraft trailer section comprise metallic tubing.
 13. The watercraftlaunch extension according to claim 2, wherein the metallic tubing has asquare cross-section.
 14. The watercraft launch extension according toclaim 2, wherein the metallic tubing is comprised of stainless steel.15. The watercraft launch extension according to claim 2, wherein themetallic tubing is comprised of galvanized steel.
 16. The watercraftlaunch extension according to claim 2, wherein the metallic tubing iscomprised of a metal alloy.
 17. The watercraft launch extensionaccording to claim 2, wherein the metallic tubing has an ovalcross-section.
 18. The watercraft launch extension according to claim 2,wherein the metallic tubing has a rectangular cross-section.
 19. Thewatercraft launch extension according to claim 1, wherein the fasteningmeans comprises one or more hitch pins.
 20. The watercraft launchextension according to claim 1, in which the end of the tow vehiclesection configured and sized to fit a tow vehicle receiver slides intothe receiver and is secured by a hitch pin.